Radon Research Projects

Radon is an odorless, naturally occurring gas. It comes from the radioactive decay of radium in soil and stone and travels through the ground to the surface of the earth. The main source of radon in homes is radon seeping through cracks in foundations or open crawl spaces.

Radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States per year. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking. (Smoking alone results in about 160,000 lung cancer deaths annually.) There are no immediate health symptoms from radon exposure.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that radon in homes be mitigated if the radon level in the lowest living area is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air or greater. For every 1,000 people exposed to 4 pCi/L of radon over a lifetime:

Approximately 62 could contract lung cancer if they also smoke.

Approximately 7 could contract lung cancer if they don’t smoke.

As radon levels double, cancer risk doubles.

The average radon level in U.S. homes is 1.3 pCi/L; however, 6% of U.S. homes have a radon level at or above 4 pCi/L.

NCHH is interested in how to assess radon and control exposure in homes most cost effectively and is engaged in research to explore these questions.

Since achieving healthy housing involves taking a holistic view of the home, some of the research projects listed below may not only be about radon; however, radon is a component of each project.